Governor Biodun Oyebanji has been re-elected as Governor of Ekiti State after a commanding victory in the June 20 governorship election, securing a second term in office and becoming the first governor in the state’s history to win back-to-back re-election victory.
According to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate polled 319,224 votes, defeating his closest challenger, the Peoples Democratic Party’s Oluwole Oluyede, who received 40,543 votes. ADC candidate Oluwadare Bejide finished a distant third. Oyebanji won in all 16 local government areas of the state, underlining the scale of his victory.
But there’s a lot of controversy surrounding this election. Some videos circulating on social media before and during the poll has sparked allegations of vote buying and voter inducement. Opposition parties and critics claimed the incidents reflected the growing influence of financial incentives in Nigerian elections.
APC supporters have dismissed the accusations and claim that Oyebanji’s performance in office is the main reason why they support him. Observers have described the election as peaceful, although some parties have raised concerns about inducement tactics and election-day irregularities.
Reacting to the result, Oyebanji thanked Ekiti voters for renewing his mandate and pledged to build on achievements recorded during his first term. President Bola Tinubu also congratulated the governor, describing the outcome as a vote of confidence in continuity, stability, and people-centered governance.
